Hitching-post.



'Nu.'7|2,9`|2. I. 'Patented Nov- 4, 1902..

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HITCHING POST.

:lvApplicxlitioq led May 20, 1902.)

(Nn Model.)

UNITED STATES 'ATENT Trice,

4 CLARENCE CRIDER, OF BANGS, OHIO.

`vturca-lING-Post.

SPECIFICATION forming .part of Letters Patent No. 712,912, dated November 4, 1902. Application filed May 20, 1902. Serial No. 108,217. KNO modeld T0 all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, CLARENCE C. CRIDER, a citizen of the United States, residingat Bangs, in the county of Knox and'State of- Ohio, have invented new and 'useful Improvements in Hitching-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to'new and useful improvements in bitching-posts; and its object is to provide a device of this character which is adapted to be normally located below the surface of the ground and which is drawn upward and locked in such-position when in use. Y y

A further objectisto provide means whereby the post is locked in lowered position and can onlyvbe unlocked by the 'person or persons having a suitable key.

Another object is to so construct the post that it will raise automatically when unlocked and can be moved back to lowered position by exerting slight pressure thereon.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists in providing, preferably, a cylindrical casing having a cap secured thereon and adapted to be arranged adjacent to the surface of the ground in which the casing is embedded. A longitudinally'- slotted tube extends downward from the cap, anda post of suitable construction is slidably mounted therein `and projects through the cap. A chain or other iiexible strip extends from the sliding post and over a pulley arranged within the upper portion of the casing, and the end of this strip is connected to a weight whereby the post is slightly overbalanced and can be automatically moved upward. It can also beshoved downward within the casing under slight pressure. A lock of suitable construction is arranged within the cap of the casing and is adapted to engage the post when it is in either raised or lowered position and can only be removed from such engagement by means of a suitable key. A securing-strip is pivoted at one end within the post and is held normally projected therefrom by means of a suitable spring.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinaf- 'ter more fully described and claimed, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

showing the preferred form of my invention, and in whieh- 1' Figure 1 is a section through the casing of the post, showing Vthe slotted tube andfthe weightin elevation. Fig. 2 is a section through the upper portion of the device and showing the post partly raised. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the post locked in lowered position. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the post.

Referring to the figures by numerals of' reference, 1 is a preferably cylindrical casing closed at the bottomby means of a disk 2 and having a cap 3 secured within its upper end in any desired manner, as by means of'setscrews 11. A tube extends downward from this cap to the bottom '2 and is provided with a longitudinally-extending slot 6. Thisslot is adapted to receive an ear 7, extendinglaterally from the tubular post 8, slidably mounted in tube 5 and extending through capS. A preferably conical head 9 is formed uponV the upper end of the post 8. I

Hangers 10 are formed upon the lower surface of cap 3, and a pulley 11 is journaled therebetween. This pulley serves to support a chain 12 or other flexible strip, whichis secured at one end to the ear 7 and at its opposite end to a weight'13.

A horizontal recess 14: is formed within the cap 3 and opens into the aperture in said cap, inwhich the tube S is mounted. Aboltl is vslidably mounted in this recess and is'h'eld normally projected by means of a spring 16. A hole' 17 communicates with the recess 14 and is adapted to permit the'insertion'z'of a suitable key-such as shown in dotted' lines, Fig. 2- whereby the bolt may be retracted. Apertures 18 are formed nearvtherupper and lower ends, respectively, of Qpost 8,1 and either of them is adapted to be engaged by the bolt 15, whereby said post is locked in raised or lowered position. A slot 19 is formed within one side of post S, near the upperl end thereof, and is adapted to receive a curved strip 20, pivoted at one end in the post and secured at its other end to a spring 21, which is adapted to hold said strip normally pressed outward through its slot.

The curved strip 20 is used for attaching a lbitching strap, rope, or other device thereto,

and by its use obstructing projections on the post, such as a ring and its attaching means, are avoided, and at the same time a device is provided for readily attaching a bitching device to the post.

Then the post is pressed down into tube 5, the curved strip 2O will be forced inward and the bolt 15 will spring into engagement with aperture 18. In order to raise the post, it will then be necessary to retract the bolt by means of a suitable key. The weight will then promptly raise the post, and when the lower aperture 18 reaches the bolt 15 it will be engaged thereby and the post thus automatically locked in position.

The securing-strip 20 will, as before stated, spring outward, as shown in Fig. 2, as soon as it emerges from the cap 3.

The parts of this device are preferably constructed of non-corrosive material, and the casing and tubes therein are Waterproof.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of myinvention; butIdo not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall Within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with a casing, of a vertically-movable post therein, means for alitomatically elevating the post, and a spring-actuated horizontally-disposed latch-bolt to lock the post in raised or lowered position and having means for engagement with a key to disengage the same from the post.

2. The combination with a casing, of a vertically-movable post thercin,a hoisting-Weight for saidpost, and a securing-strip within the post adapted to be automatically retracted or projected during the downward or upward movement of the post respectively.

3. The combination with a casing, of a vertically-movable post therein,a hoisting-weight for said post, means for automatically locking the post in raised or lowered position, and a securing-strip within the post and adapted to be automatically retracted or projected during the downward and upward movements of the post respectively.

4. The combination with a casing, of a vertically-movable post therein ,a head to the post A arranged outside the casing, a hoisting-weight for the post, a securing-strip pivoted withinl the post, and a spring secured to said strip and adapted to hold the same normally projected through a slot in the post,'said strip 'l being adapted to be retracted automatically during the downward movement of the post. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE C. CRIDER. Vitnesses:

C. R. HOOKER, O. L. CUZZEL. 

